Am I Doing Anything That could Cause an Early Menopause?

Am I Doing Anything That could Cause an Early Menopause?

Your lifestyle can definitely influence when your body will begin manifesting symptoms of menopause, how easy or difficult your menopausal transition might be, and your postmenopausal health. Beginning with your overall health, factors such as diet, stress, physical activity, smoking, drinking, and environmental toxin exposure can also affect when your menopause begins and how smoothly you make the transition. Here's a brief rundown:

* Your overall health, which is definitely influenced by your lifestyle, can determine how well your body adjusts to the changes it's undergoing during menopause and afterward. The ovaries are glands that interact with various other glands located throughout your body, creating the endocrine system. Secretions from the glands stimulate and support every part

of your body. When one of these glands stops producing hormones, it affects all the rest. The body then attempts to rebalance itself naturally. If your body does not need to expend energy overcoming existing health problems, then it can adjust more easily to the changes of menopause.

* Negative stress can be detrimental to the body at any time, but unmanaged stress can increase hormone imbalances leading up to and during menopause, magnifying emotional and physical discomforts you may already be feeling. Ongoing unmanaged stress sends your body into an extended fight-or-flight mode, causing the adrenal glands to continually kick in, providing extra survival energy. Adrenal exhaustion can result, leaving your body unequipped to handle emotional and physical exertion of any kind. Moreover, the adrenal glands are then unavailable to convert androgens into estrogen when the ovaries are unable to do so. Since the adrenal glands play specific roles within the complicated endocrine system, loss of adrenal function at a time when you most need it affects your entire body. This can have a destructive effect on your menopausal transition, as well as your future health, especially your skeletal and cardiovascular systems. Chapter 7 offers many suggestions for how you can reduce the impact of negative stress on your health.

* Women who regularly consume substantial amounts of alcoholic beverages go through menopause earlier than those who do not. Excessive alcohol consumption is detrimental to any woman's overall health.

* Studies suggest that smoking cigarettes affects a woman's estrogen levels, in addition to the other damage it inflicts on the body. Reports also indicate that smokers go through menopause one to two years earlier than nonsmokers or ex-smokers. The longer a woman has smoked and the number of cigarettes she smoked daily seems to move her closer to an early menopause. Women who live with smokers and are exposed to passive cigarette smoke also seem to enter menopause earlier, as do women whose mothers smoked. Smokers are also at higher risk for developing health problems during their postmenopausal years, including osteo-porosis and cardiovascular diseases and disorders. We are only beginning to understand how exposure to toxic substances affects a woman's health, but the news is not good. Contact with chemicals in soil and water is being linked to higher risks of developing breast cancer, endometriosis, and osteoporosis, as well as being generally detrimental to a woman's overall health. Avoiding pesticides and chemicals, including those contained in household cleaning products, is better for your body and for the environment.

* Although the reasons are not clear, studies have shown that women who live at higher altitudes enter menopause years* earlier than women who live at lower altitudes.

Author Info... Annabel Cruz is a researcher that studies Natural healing by combining both Western and Eastern ways. Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine as long as the following information about author/website is included. http://www.bestpuerariamirifica.com

8 Ways To Prevent Osteoporosis And Heart Disease During Menopause

Osteoporosis causes bones to lose mass and density. As the bones become porous and brittle, the chance of fracture is greatly increased. Often there are no symptoms and a person only discovers that they have osteoporosis when they suffer a fracture.

Heart disease includes a number of conditions affecting the structures or function of the heart. They includes coronary artery disease (including heart attack), abnormal heart rhythms or arrythmias, heart failure, heart valve disease, congenital heart disease, heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), pericardial disease, aorta disease and Marfan syndrome, vascular disease (blood vessel disease).

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. thus, it is essential to learn how prevent heart disease.

During menopause, many women are easily getting osteoporosis. Indeed, it would also be easy for them to get heart disease.

How is that?

Women, during menopause, might be lack of estrogen. This causes bones to lose calcium and become weaker, putting them at risk for severe bone loss or osteoporosis. A lack of estrogen also increases risk of heart disease.

However, there are steps you can do to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease, such as:

1. Get enough calcium to keep your bones strong. Before menopause, you need about 1,000 mg of calcium per day. After menopause, you need 1,500 mg per day. You also can talk with your physician about taking medicine to help preserve bone and slow down bone loss. Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. Try weight-bearing exercises, like walking, running, or dancing.

2. Eat healthy by including plenty of whole grain products, vegetables, and fruits in your diet. Choose a diet low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.

3. Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your health care provider what a healthy weight is for you.

4. Control your blood pressure. Ask your health care provider what a healthy number is for you and how often you need it checked.

5. If you have diabetes, control and monitor your blood sugar levels.

6. Lower your cholesterol to the right level. Ask your health care provider what a healthy level is for you.

7. If you smoke, try to quit. Ask your health care provider for help or visit this special section of the NWHIC web site: www.4woman.gov/QuitSmoking

8. If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink per day.

So, if you think that your menopause has begun, it is important for you to pay attention to the eight essential ways to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease.

Riana Lance has a deep concern on health. Get her inspirational guides on How to Cure Insomnia at http://healthifica.com/guides/menopause-stress/ Also, grasp her other motivational health tips at http://www.healthifica.com, a worth-to-visit daily updated blog.

Menopause And Your Diet

It seems like just yesterday that you were planning a tropical vacation or preparing for a high school reunion. Preparations for such events included watching your caloric intake two or three weeks to ensure that you would be svelte and sexy for the occasion. And now? Well, you?re noticing symptoms of menopause. As a result your mid-section is expanding, and stubbornly refusing to respond to your efforts to shed its spare tire.

Your added weight is a perfectly normal symptom of menopause and you need not be concerned ? that is, as long as you?re willing to take the necessary steps to drop the extra fat surrounding your waistline. You see if you keep the weight on and let it continue to accumulate, you?ll put yourself at risk of developing heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and many other chronic illnesses associated with obesity.

So, what?s the solution? Believe it or not, it?s actually just common sense and really very simple. You can eliminate menopausal weight gain, as well as other symptoms associated with menopause by eating healthy, controlling your caloric consumption and consuming the proper nutrients.

As your estrogen level declines, your body will naturally look for other places from where to get needed estrogen. Since your fat cells are capable of producing estrogen, your body works harder to convert your consumed calories into fat. Some foods are metabolized too quickly, thus causing unhealthy spikes in blood sugar and insulin levels, which results in additional fat accumulation. Because of this, you?ll want to avoid these foods, which include white rice, potatoes and white bread. Instead, add wholegrain bread, oats, rye and wheat germ to your diet.

You?ll also want to eliminate fried foods; instead bake or broil when you cook. Baked and broiled foods aren?t just healthier, but they can actually be more appealing to the taste buds. When cooking with oils, avoid using processed cooking oils. Alternatively, use unprocessed oils, such as extra virgin olive oil, canola, wheat germ and flaxseed oil.

When you feel like having a snack, reach for nuts, seeds (pumpkin and sunflower), dried fruits and fresh fruit. Try to stick with melons, bananas, oranges and lemons, as these fruits are high in potassium, which is an excellent source to help balance sodium and water retention. You?ll also want to increase your daily intake of vegetables, including salad (preferably made with romaine or bib lettuce, which contain more nutritional value than does iceberg lettuce), yam and dark leafy vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli and cabbage. Peppers and tomatoes aren?t just beneficial to your health and diet, but they?re quite tasty and can add a lot to your recipes.

Soy foods are fast becoming a popular choice to reduce symptoms of menopause. Soy foods include soybeans, calcium-fortified soy milk, soy yogurt, tofu and others. I?ll admit that I haven?t yet indulged in soy-fortified foods, but it?s said that the benefits of their consumption are quite significant.

I highly recommend that you drink more mineral and bottled water, and reduce your intake of caffeine and alcohol. This will significantly reduce the incidence of hot flashes.

Of course, you?ll be tempted to stray from healthy eating once in awhile, which is okay ? as long as you make it an occasional treat and not a regular practice. If you stick to the guidelines I mentioned, you will notice a reduction in many menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, bloating, water retention, fatigue and mood swings.

Obviously, by consuming foods low in calories and fat you?ll also notice that you?re better able to control the weight gain associated with menopause. By adding a regular exercise program to your lifestyle, not only will you control your weight, but you?ll lose a significant amount of weight, as well. Fortunately, the foods that I?ve outlined will no doubt give you the energy needed to actively exercise each day. If you include weight training you?ll build muscle, become lean and toned (for real ? even at our age!) and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

When we were young girls we didn?t aspire to experience menopause. As a matter of fact, I can say with confidence that not one ten-year-old girl has ever muttered the words ?When I grow up I want to be menopausal.? The fact is, if we?re lucky enough to experience life, menopause is just a natural part of being a woman. It?s not the end, but rather a very beautiful beginning of self confidence, maturity, beauty and an active lifestyle ? that is, if you choose to make it so.
Susan Megge is the founder of http://www.40isbeautiful.com, a website designed to assist mature women as they approach and experience menopause. Susan started experiencing symptoms of menopause several years ago and researched various avenues to deal with these symptoms naturally.

Menopause Werewolf

Do you send family members running for the hills or are colleagues looking at you like you've sprouted two heads? No you're not turning into a werewolf at the next full moon. If you are a perimenopausal woman, it's more likely you're experiencing one of the more common and often misunderstood symptoms of menopause, irritability. The definition of irritability is: a quick excitability to annoyance, impatience, or anger. Sounds about right, on the surface your simply going about your business doing what you've always done. You arrive home from work tired and wanting a few minutes to unwind and almost instantly your husband asks what's for supper, your son wants help with a project, and your daughter wants a ride to a friend's house. A variation of this scene has played out thousands of times before but tonight your head is teaming with thoughts like..... 'What you can't work the stove?', 'Why does it always have to be me helping?', 'Couldn't she have gotten a ride from her dad?', 'What do I look like the master servant!!'. You may utter a sarcastic quip or snap a retort but you just do it all and wonder what's wrong with you. Does this sound a little too familiar? What you and those around you don't realize is there is a major renovation underway.

Urban legend would have it that menopausal women are like werewolves with dropping estrogen as their 'full moon' to trigger the scary transformation from docile caretaker to raging lunatic. In fact mood swings do occur with the menopausal changes in hormonal balance. But the greater change is occurring in your brain. Your brain is essentially rewiring. There is new brain growth, specifically the myelin sheath, the coating that insulates the nerve and speeds up the connection between nerve cells, in the part of the brain responsible for emotional learning. These changes allow for greater clarity. This combined with the decrease in our 'nurturing' hormone, estrogen, accounts for our shift in awareness from caring for others to more self nurturing pursuits.

The irritability usually starts subtly, like low voltage through a wire barely strong enough to keep a pilot light lit. Over time the current becomes stronger and stronger until you could light a stadium with it. The minor irritability, low voltage anger, will continue to build if you ignore it. This is an internal signal telling you to take a look at what's going on in your life and asking yourself if the situation is really serving you anymore. By answering honestly and taking a clear look at your needs you can renegotiate your relationships to better support you. Changing the unwritten contract in relationships, you know the one that says you do all the cooking or that it's alright to make last minute requests that rob you of your down time, can be challenging and it takes time.

Here are some other immediate support measures to help ease the irritability. * Keep alcohol and caffeine to a minimum * Avoid processed foods * Be sure to get enough calcium and magnesium * Engage in stress reducing activities like meditation, yoga, exercise, fresh air & sunshine * Foster supportive friendships

If ignored this irritability often blossoms into other health issues. After all it's your body's way of trying to get your attention to make some changes.

Cathy Brennan, owner of Pathways Coaching, is a Professional Coach specializing in Menopausal Women. She thrives on helping her clients maneuver through the menopause transition and design a life that they can't wait to greet each morning. She has been a Professional Coach for 5 years and has 25 years experience as a Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Practitioner. To contact call 860-774-0006, email coach@pathwayscoach, or visit http://www.pathwayscoach.com. For a free Menopause Assessment go to http://www.assessmentgenerator.com/H/cRcoachcmb1156881430.html

Cathy Brennan, owner of Pathways Coaching, is a Professional Coach specializing in Menopausal Women. She thrives on helping her clients maneuver through the menopause transition and design a life that they can't wait to greet each morning. She has been a Professional Coach for 5 years and has 25 years experience as a Registered Nurse and Holistic Health Practitioner. To contact call 860-774-0006, email coach@pathwayscoach , or visit http://w

Avoid Perimenopause Woes

Alternative health care therapies are available to perimenopausal women.

Perimenopause normally happens about six years before full menopause begins.

And No! You don't have to ingest (HRT)a pregnant mare's urine! Besides,it's been proven to be much too dangerous. This has prompted many womento search for other options.

Alternative health care therapies are available to perimenopausal women. Nutrition and nutritional supplementation are biggies to avoid perimenopause woes. Start as early in your younger years as you can. Or if you're already into it, it's not too late. Get serious and you will begin to feel and see some changes.

Besides choosing plant-based alternatives to hormone replacement therapy (HRT), also recommended: 1. Reduce stress in your life 2. Diet 3. Exercise is one method of stress reduction that reduces hot flashes 4. Nutritional supplements support and work with a woman's body, not against it5. Prayer 6. Meditation 7.

Yoga and8. Tai chi can all be used to control your body's stress response and reduce menopausal symptoms.

Herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, and other self-help measures supportand work with a woman's body, not against it, thereby reducing the dread of perimenopause and helping to avoid perimenopause woes!To fight hot flashes related to perimenopause woes, keep a portable fan nearby, avoid spicy meals and alcohol, and eat foods high in hormone-balancing phytoestrogens like soy nuts or tofu. Get serious and you canavoid perimenopause woes.

Ruby Boyd's website offers information on achieving Natural Health, Natural Beauty using natural, drug-free methods. Visit Women's Health for additional information on how to avoid perimenopause woes using alternative health care

Menopause.... Discover How To Control The Symptoms.

 

While menopause is a normal change in life that all women experience, the symptoms can be extremely bothersome. Some women are bombarded with these uncomfortable symptoms, and search out ways to help control them. Here we will discuss menopause and how to help control its symptoms.

Hot flashes are one of the most common symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are also known as night sweats, but do not always occur at night. It is when your body becomes suddenly hot, so hot, that it radiates into the face and neck area. Very often the person suffering with the hot flash will sweat so profusely that the sweat will saturate her clothing. A hot flash is usually always followed by a chill, or cooling down period. To help control hot flashes effectively, a woman can add soy products or more fiber to her diet.

Vaginal dryness is another uncomfortable symptom of menopause. Research studies have shown that adding vitamin E supplements to their daily routines, many women have lessened, and even eliminated vaginal dryness all together. Vitamin E suppositories are available for menopausal women - these are inserted into the vagina. Vitamin E is also proven effective in aiding in the reduction, or even elimination, of hot flashes, as well.

There are numerous natural remedies to help in controlling many of the symptoms of menopause. Due to lack of hormones being produced in their bodies, many women will experience bouts of moodiness, and sometimes even depression. St. John's Wart, which can be purchased at many health food stores, can often help with this. By adding a St. John's Wart supplement to their daily routine, many women have reported being less irritable, less depressed, and even energized. Other supplements that can help with moodiness include kava kava and valerian.

Black cohosh is a very popular herb women use to help cut down on the symptoms of menopause. Black cohosh can help with hot flashes, cramps, and heavy menstrual bleeding. Research studies have also shown that black cohosh may even help prevent osteoporosis. Most research studies recommend you take black cohosh extract, and it may take two to four weeks before noticed results occur.

Like black cohosh, chasterberry (or vitex agnus castus) can help alleviate symptoms of menopause including hot flashes and vaginal dryness. In addition to these symptoms of menopause, chasterberry may also help with breast tenderness. Women have reported it taking up to four weeks to achieve noticeable results.

While the symptoms of menopause can be uncomfortable, bothersome, and irritating, there is hope. In addition to traditional hormone replacement therapy, many options are available to help lessen, or even eliminate the symptoms of menopause.

The author Linda Johns had the experience of breastfeeding her own children and is the wife of Allan Johns who has over twenty years experience in health and related industries and now devotes his time to sharing his knowledge with the millions of people interested in improving or learning more about better health. Don't miss Allan's information packed health site at: http://www.betterhealthcentre.com/

Natural Approaches to Menopause

This past July,a report raised serious new concerns for the six million women taking combination hormone replacement therapy.
In the lastest and statistically most valid study of this subject ever done,it was found that the combination of ESTROGEN AND PROGESTIN taken for MANY YEARS, not only FAIL TO DECREASE THE INCIDENCE OF VASCULAR DISEASE,BUT ALSO INCREASES THE RISK OF HEART ATTACKS,STROKES,BREAST CANCER,AND CLOTTING DISORDERS.
In addition,other recent research has found a possible link between ESTROGEN replacement and OVARIAN CANCER.Although theses risks are not considered to be high,they are REAL-REAL ENOUGH FOR THE INVESTIGATORS TO HAVE STOPPED THE STUDIES IN MID-COURSE.
The DOWNSIDE of HRT OUTWEIGHTED THE BENEFITS.
So what's a Menopausal Woman to do? Read on to learn about HEALTHY and NATURAL ways to approach Menopause.
The ancient Greeks referred to Menopause as the "Climateric" or "Change of Life",and regarded it as a step in the ladder of life.It was considered to be an important step in the maturation of a woman.
In Traditional Cultures,even those of today,there is little or no evidence of the negative symptoms "Modern" people associate with menopause.
In large measure, because the "Traditional"(or what some people would call Primative) human diet is low in fat and animal proteins.
In a healthy person,the body adjusts for the ovarian reduction in estrogen by signaling other glands, (especially the Adrenal glands),to produce more estrogen,preventing the complete loss of the female hormone.However,if the ADRENAL GLANDS ARE WEAKENED BY A LIFETIME OF POOR DIET AND BAD HEALTH HABITS,THEY PROBABLY CANNOT AND WILL NOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THE BODY WHEN MENOPAUSE BEGANS.

Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55,when the ovaries stop producing eggs.The woman also undergoes a number of hormonal changes,including a reduction in estrogen production,an increase in pituitary hormone,and higher levels of male hormones.
With the reduction in estrogen production,also comes an increase in bone loss,a lowering of HDL,(the Good cholesterol),and an increase in cholesterol.This can result in Atherosclerosis,Coronary Heart Disease,and Stroke.
Other changes can occur as well,such as: poor memory,poor concentration,moodiness,anxiety,loss of sex drive,hot flashes,night sweats,and/or vaginal dryness.These changes also increase the likelihood of bladder and vaginal infections.

Traditionalist believe that one of the best approaches to menopause is in the diet.Eating foods rich in Phytoestrogens,which are Plant-Produced ,promote bone health and prevent Cancer.A low-fat,high fiber diet will help the body to adjust more easily to changing hormonal levels.

Such foods are: Whole Grains,Fresh Vegetables,Beans,Seaweed,Miso,Tofu,Seeds and Nuts,(especially Sunflower Seeds).

According to Chinese Medicine,the symptoms of menopause imply a deficiency of YIN fluids,particularly those fluids that calm and relax the liver.A helpful dietary approach then,is to add foods that build the YIN.
These foods are: Wheat Germ, Mung Beans and Sprouts,Tofu,String Beans,Black Beans,Kidney Beans, Barley,Black Sesame Seeds,and Royal Jelly(from bees).

Foods that contain Phytoestrogens help prevent hot flashes and night sweats,as well as some of the psychological changes,(anxiety,moodiness,etc.).
Some of these are: Tofu and other Soy products,Yams,Carrots,Apples,and Potatoes.

Foods rich in Calcium,help prevent Osteoporosis.
Some of these foods are:Sesame Seeds,Almonds,Low-fat Yogurt,Dark Leafy Greens,(such as Kale,Collards,Broccoli),and Sardines.

Foods and Other Things that would be WISE to AVOID:

Animal Foods,Fatty Foods and Fried Foods,
Sugar and Refined Foods(these contribute to mood swings),
Caffeine (can cause hot flashes),
Alcohol (can cause hot flashes),
and use of Tobacco,(we all know by now the dangers of Tobacco).

HERBS TO TREAT MENEPAUSE:

"Chaste Berry":stimulates the production of progesterone and helps balance hormones
(And/or)"Black Cohosh"which has simular properties,and acts in much the same manner as Chaste Berry.Please go to my "Herb of the Month" page to learn more about "Black Cohosh".

"Don Quai":(also known as "Angelica"):stimulates estrogen production and helps balance hormonal levels in young as well as older women.It also boosts energy levels and increases all-over well-being.

"Motherwort":(a member of the Mint family):relieves heart palpitations,reduces pain,but in some people can cause drowsiness,combined with "Sage",will help relieve hot flashes

"Siberian Ginseng":helps strengthen Adrenal Glands,as well as strengthens over-all immune system,and boosts energy levels.BUT IF YOU HAVE A HEART PROBLEM OF ANY KIND,YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE GINSENG.

"Borage":helps strengthen Adrenal glands

"Licorice":strengthens Adrenal glands(IF YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE,OR A HEART CONDITION,DO NOT USE LICORICE)

"Primrose Oil" or Caps:Helps your skin stay supple and soft,helps ease hotflashes and night-sweats,strenghtens heart,
"Vit.E" and "Flax Seed Oil" does much the same as "Primrose".

HERBS TO TREAT TENSION, MOODINESS, AND ANXIETY

"Wild Oats"or"Oatstraw" (good over-all immune booster,increases energy levels,fights anxiety,eases depression)

"Skullcap"(this can cause drowsiness)

"Valerian"(this is fairly strong,and can cause drowsiness,should mainly be used at night for sleeplessness)

"Kava-Kava"(this can cause drowsiness in some people, is also used to manage moodiness,anxiety,& pain)

"Chamomile"(this is very mild,and will not cause drowsiness,can be used safely during day,helps with anxiety,and crankiness)

"Passion Flower"(this can cause drowsiness,it reduces anxiety,and helps with insomnia)

"St.Johns Wort":(reduces depression)

"Hops" (good over-all immune booster)

With any of these herbs,you need to use caution until you know how it will affect you.And unless you are very knowledgeable in the use of herbs,I recommend that you contact a qualified Herbalist or Naturopathic Dr. or Practioner for instructions on use and how much to take.

Traditionally Trained(Native American)Herbalist,Natural Health Care Consultant,Cert.Mental Health Care Consultant,Trained Masseuse on hand for all your health care needs and concerns.Are not the "Natural"forces more Orthodox than the Artificial resources of the Conventional/Allopathic resources of the Druggist or Dr.?!

Menopause and Incontinence

Menopause can bring uncomfortable symptoms such as incontinence in several different forms. Even younger women experience occasional bouts of urinary leakage during pregnancy, after childbirth, and sometimes even during sex. But menses seems to bring out more occasions of uncontrollable incontinence.

This inability to control your bladder can happen when you put pressure on yourself by wrenching your gut due to laughing or yelling, sneezing and coughing. The condition worsens if your bladder is full. Incontinence can also feel like a strong, uncontrollable urge to pass urine resulting in continuous leakage. Sometimes the sound of running water can trigger this urge.

There is also overflow incontinence. No matter how many times you frequent the restroom and urinate, there are always some urine leaked. This is a result of function of the nerve supply to the bladder being impaired and the consequence is a distended bladder that leak when over filled. Women with this condition do not feel the urge top ass urine. Delaying the need to pass urine can cause this type of incontinence.

If you experience continuous incontinence, there is leakage of urine more or less all of the time without warning. Although this type is uncommon it is caused by abnormalities in the urinary tract which may be congenital or resulting from childbirth, or from surgery such as hysterectomy and medical treatments such as radiation.
Bouts of incontinence can also be due to menopause, specifically hormonal imbalances. Producing less can cause the lining of the bladder to weaken, causing irreparable control of bladder movement. The older we get, the harder it is for us to hold back our urine - bladders get weaker and reaction times become slower.
Depending on the type of incontinence you are experiencing, your doctor may recommend from several types of treatment. Antibiotics are sometimes required to treat infection. Drugs can be taken that control abnormal bladder contractions or to create contraction in an over distended bladder.
Balancing your hormones with either HRT or natural, bioidentical replacement therapy can significantly relieve stress incontinence. And, of course there are the traditional pelvic floor exercises and kegels to strengthen the muscles surrounding the urethra and vagina. In more severe cases, surgery may be required or electrical stimulation of the muscles around the bladder. This is definitely one your need to work out with your doctor.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Cathy writes frequently on mid-life issues for women and men particularly menopause, and a copy of her book can be found at http://www.howtoconquermenopause.com
To read a sample of this book go to http://www.everythingmenopause.com/currentissue.html